To Cry

Chapter 20 : Epilogue

This chapter can found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary: Generally what happened in this alternate universe during the next decade or so, and a glimpse of Luka and Marinette's wedding.

...

Five years have now passed after Marinette had moved on from Adrien and discovered his identity, only to keep it to herself for much of that time, and they were still fighting Hawkmoth.

Hawkmoth was still somewhat active after all. Instead of attacks being a day apart, it could be weeks between attacks, but they had grown more dangerous than ever. Mayura would only appear every few months, and that was when they needed the full team.

Over half of the Miraculous now had permanent holders now, and having them just come to the battles ended them faster, something that they needed to do so that they wouldn’t be missing from their adult lives for long.

It was almost ironic looking back, because less than a month after Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s one-time date five years ago, Adrien Agreste asked out Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

What he hadn’t known at the time, was that she had asked Luka Couffaine to be her boyfriend just two weeks prior.

Adrien really did have the worst luck, after a brief period of sadness and jealousy, he found a way to be happy for them, having realized that he had idolized Ladybug for too long and that missing his opportunity with Marinette was probably a consequence of that.

Marinette and Luka themselves dated since then and while they started out slowly, they became more serious about each other over time.

Luka of course became a backup guitarist to Jagged Stone for the start of his career, eventually becoming the opening act for him as Marinette started her own online boutique. On their fifth anniversary of their highly negotiated first date, not that anyone but they knew that, Luka proposed to her.

Their friends were happy for them.

Including a long-suffering Adrien, who was now really good friends with both of them.

To Cry

Chapter 19:  Marinette Makes a Decision

This chapter can be found Here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary: Has Chat Noir accidentally given away his identity?If so... what will Marinette's reaction be and what will she do about it?

...

Ladybug had noticed that Chat Noir was sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck and grinning at her in a VERY familiar way…

Oh no… she thought.

Marinette blinked in shock as he tried to deny what he had done, researching what would be the best LadyNoir date with his friends and her! Which only solidified it as her memories came back to haunt her.

How many akumas did I attract because he didn’t see ME, Marinette me?

I’m on a date with HIM! With ADRIEN!

Wait, the girl he loves isn’t Kagami! It’s me!

Then her heart ached as she automatically added sullenly, Ladybug me.

He loves Ladybug, not Marinette, not like THAT, and… and well, most of me is Marinette.

Right? She wondered.

Is this why Luka wanted me to come? To let me see that my friend Chat Noir is none other than the boy I once had a crush on and that I had fooled myself into falling for the less genuine side of him?

Marinette knew for a fact that Luka knew Chat’s identity by now after all, but she quickly decided, no, no Luka’s not like that.

Chat Noir was still blathering on, trying to explain why he wouldn’t actually poll people about what kind of date they’d go on.

“H-how silly would that be right? Ha ha?” He laughed weakly.

Luka’s right though, Adrien and Chat are stubborn, and they’d, no, he’d need this.

She sighed as she watched him prattle on.

I guess, I guess I needed it too.

We’re friends and partners. I don’t want to mess either of those up. She reminded herself.

I wonder, should I tell him that I figured out his identity?

“Milady?” Chat Noir quirked his head and asked gently, “are you still with me?”

She chuckled half-heartedly and tried to give him a comforting smile. To do so was easier than she thought it would be. “You know I am Kitty, always.”

“Would, would you like to sit and watch the city for a while? With me?” He asked her nervously as he spun the end of his tail with his hand.

Marinette nodded, this was Chat and also her friend Adrien, whether he knew that or nor. She had already grown used to leaning on and using Adrien as a pillow when their group of friends got together for a movie when Luka or Kagami wasn’t there. If Kagami was there, she conceded to Kagami. If Luka was there, she’d sit beside him.

Adrien had been growing closer to Kagami too, and Marinette knew that she loved Adrien, but Adrien being Chat Noir and in love with her spotted self was probably what was stopping him from moving on with her friend Kagami.

Marinette shook her head a little, this is so messed up!

I can’t believe I let Adrien, I mean, Chat Noir lay down and use my lap as a pillow, like I do with Luka and he never thought it was more than what friends just do.

Poor Kagami.

I’ll have to have a talk with him.

To Cry

Chapter 18  The Date You Weren't Expecting

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary: Time jump. A few months later and team Miraculous are defeating akumatized victims faster than ever.Still, there is that question that no one had been addressing, is Marinette, err, Ladybug, ready to start dating?

...

Ladybug and Chat Noir and their new team had made some adjustments over the next few months...

Viperion and Pegasus were almost instantly permanent back up heroes. Of course, they only came to the akuma battles when they were contacted by either Ladybug or Chat Noir.

They also only patrolled at night and when it was dark, just to get a feel for the city and to hide their permanent status of holding their own miraculous from Hawkmoth for as long as possible. Thus far, only the main team knew that they could possibly carry their miraculous with them.

Chloe and Kagami were brought on almost immediately as the go to back up part time wielders as well. The team came up with a way to contact them through secret phones as well and to be met up with by Ladybug or occasionally Chat Noir with the help of Pegasus to deliver their Miraculous to avoid any traps that might have been set up by Hawkmoth. Having Pegasus around and the use of the secret phones worked remarkably well for that.

Eventually, Rena Rouge and Carapace were trusted part timers again as well. Carapace was granted the use of the Turtle miraculous first and two weeks later Rena Rouge was called upon after being benched for six weeks. (After severe changes to how the Ladyblog was run, several retractions and apologies, and several interviews that gave false information that was removed, of course.)

The team was growing stronger and the battles were also shorter, which really helped out Adrien and Marinette with their personal lives as well.

Marinette being Marinette of course forgave all of her friends eventually, but it took time. The trust took a little longer, but she gave it once more when she was ready to.

It was a nice bonus that Marinette’s friendship with Adrien grew stronger than ever.

Unfortunately for Adrien, well, he found himself feeling guilty about being far more attracted to his really good friend than he was comfortable with, especially since he still felt devoted to his Lady and it seemed like she and Luka were growing closer. He felt both guilt and jealousy, but he couldn’t explain why.

Adrien was almost to the point when he thought that he should ask Ladybug about it, or maybe even Viperion, after all, he found that the older boy was pretty good about advice and he had forgiven him for being so close to the girl that they both loved. Not that Ladybug was dating either of them after two months, but even Chat Noir began to feel like the passage of time was important somehow.

Viperion himself had also gone above and beyond in trying to make sure that everything ran smoothly between himself, Chat Noir and Ladybug. Ladybug tried to be more trusting and kinder with Chat Noir, asking his opinion and such and only hid from him what the Guardian insisted that she should hide from him. Chat Noir in turn learned to pun and flirt less during the main battle, but tried to respect her boundaries as well.

Viperion avoided flirting with Ladybug in front of Chat Noir after the first couple of weeks as well once the team noticed that that was a thing that seemed to come to the snake naturally, not that he did it very it often. He obviously still cared for her and he still was able to get her to blush a bit faster than the cat, which made teamwork difficult between all of them, thus the need for them both to tone down the flirting competitions with their Lady and respect Ladybug’s right to choose her own suitor. As a result, the team had been working better than ever .

Still, as time grew closer for Marinette to finish her self-imposed abstinence from dating or allowing herself to fall for someone, Luka knew that they needed to have a conversation about the Cat.

…

“My sweet Melody,” Viperion hesitantly asked Ladybug on one of their few patrol nights together, without Chat having joined them yet that is, “can I ask you a favor?”

Smiling and thankful for the darkness of night and her mask to hide her blush, Marinette replied, “yes, my hot-blooded reptile?”

Viperion blushed and his heart pounded as she slid up next to him, taking his breath away. Which happened every time she used her new nick name for him that she had come up with all on her own a couple of weeks ago that she only used when they were in private like this after all.

He cleared his throat as her flirtatious behavior made something come alive in his heart song as he thought, Marinette is successfully driving me insane.

She had been trying to weaken his wish to give her some time to herself after giving up on Adrien after all, and he knew that she was probably ready to move on for real now, it had been more than enough time after all. Still, they were hesitant to cross that bridge.

Viperion couldn’t help thinking, my Melody is a persistent one. I’ll give her that.

Luka sighed and then brushed a stray hair out of her face for her as he struggled to suggest perhaps the craziest idea that he’d ever had, but he needed to put it out there. “Ladybug, I think there is something important that needs to be done before we can even consider dating.”

“Oh, Ladybug is it now?” She stepped back and put her hands on her hips authoritatively as she addressed him, “sounds like this is a professional conversation.”

He nodded, “in a way, it is. I think…” he took a breath finding it harder to say than he thought it would be, “I-I think that you need to give the Cat a chance.”

“WHAT?!” She looked at him in surprise and shock before she managed to reply as she weakly pointed from him to herself, “but… but I thought that y-you and… and I?”

Then she began to frown, obviously feeling a bit rejected.

Oh, Ma-Ma-Marinette I didn’t mean to hurt you!

He immediately held out his hands to placate her, “wait, no, please don’t think like that my Melody. I’m not denying that I want to date you, as myself, and I will take you out, I promise you that.”

She finally calmed down and he swallowed before telling her, “after you’ve given him a chance, that is, if you’ll still have me....”

To Cry

Chapter 17  Lila Just Can't Escape

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary:  Lila wants to sneak away and come up with a plan, but the class will not have it as they process everything that they've already heard and then some...

Lila looked around nervously as the other students crowded around her. Alya, Nino, Rose, Kim and a few others surrounded her as they watched Marinette interact with Jagged Stone and Penny the way that Lila had previously been saying that she was helping them with their wedding plans, which didn’t sound real at all right now, obviously.

Their classmates were still taking in the information that Chloe of all people confirmed that Lila didn’t know Jagged Stone or his crocodile Fang, not Kang, and according to Jagged not only did he not know Lila, but Fang wasn’t a rescue that she found in Australia, but from a farm of some kind.

Plus, there was the bomb that Marinette admitted to, that she considered Adrien as ‘just a friend’ and the one from Adrien that he was NOT secretly dating Lila, like Lila had suggested.

Their classmates whispered to each other as they tried to understand it all as they waited for the answer to Rose’s text to her friend Prince Ali asking if he knew Lila.

Meanwhile, they couldn’t help themselves as they listened in on Marinette’s conversation with the visiting celebrity and his fiancé as they ignored the crowd and Lila. Honestly, it was as if Marinette didn’t care about Lila or the situation at all.

“Well Marinette, back to business. Do you think that you could make something for Fang for the wedding and maybe for us too? We want him to be our ring bearer.” Penny asked Marinette nicely.

Marinette looked thoughtful as she glanced at Fang, “actually, I think a whole tuxedo wouldn’t be quite right, I mean as Jagged says he’s really Rock and Roll the way he is.”

Jagged grinned, “well, you got that right but if we’re getting dressed up, it wouldn’t be right to leave out Fang.”

“Oh, I know, I was just thinking about making him a sparkly tuxedo coat with twin tails and a matching top hat. Oh, and I could make it so we could tie the rings to the top of the hat so he could carry them for you!” Marinette looked excited by the idea as she pet a happy Fang’s head, “you’ll be the best ring bearer, won’t you Fang?”

“Marinette!” Jagged Stone exclaimed as he surprised her when he picked her up and swung her around as Penny laughed, “that is such an awesome idea! Can you do that for us?”

“Sure Jagged, now please put me down.” She squeaked as she smiled up at him before he put her down.

“That’s Uncle Jagged to you Miss!” He wagged a finger at her and she laughed along with him and Penny.

“And soon I’ll be your Aunt!” Penny grinned.

“I’m looking forward to it.” Marinette answered, which was when the five-minute bell rang, “but we’ll have to talk about it after school.”

“You’re on Marinette love!” Jagged grinned as he led Penny back to the limo, Fang happily walking ahead of them, a bit loopy from all the pets, “see you later Marinette!”

“I’ll call you to set up an appointment for measurements!” Penny called out.

“I look forward to it.” Marinette told them brightly. “Bye Jagged! Bye Penny and Fang!” Marinette waved goodbye to them as they got in the limo and waved from the vehicle as they drove off, just as Rose’s phone chimed.

Rose read the response to her text and gasped, “Lila! You lied about knowing Prince Ali too!”

“What?!” More than once classmate exclaimed.

“I, I can h-hardly believe it!” Rose squeaked as Alix took her phone.

Alix frowned as she read the text herself, “hey! It says it right here, he doesn’t know a Lila Rossi and he’s never partnered or worked with an Italian Ambassador’s daughter on anything!”

Everyone gasped as Nino asked as he looked at Lila, who was pouting a bit, “Dude, what else have you lied about?”

“Oh, uh, you know celebrities they can’t tell people who they’re really close to…” Lila tried to explain as she started to pretend to cry, “I-I mean, I’m s-sure Prince Ali is just t-trying to protect me!”

To Cry

Chapter 16 Two Days

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary: Marinette didn't have to wait very long for Lila to make the wrong claim...

Wednesday morning and Marinette was found on the front steps of the school again, with a slight blush and a smile on her face as she was typing away on her phone, saying good morning to Luka once more.

Adrien was shortly delivered by his bodyguard to the school and he joined up with Nino and Alya, who were of course standing by Lila’s side listening to her newest tale, based upon the newest newsworthy item. If only she knew that she was poking the bear… or in this case, by extension, the crocodile’s best friend.

While she tried for half a second, Marinette discovered that it was too hard not to ignore the chattering and gossip that was loudly being passed along around her, but she listened in anyway. Pressing record on her phone just in case. 

Good for her… not good for the resident liar.

“Of course, I knew that they were going to get together, I introduced them after all, after saving his kitten that he had to give away because of his allergies.” Lila loudly proclaimed, repeating a former lie. “I mean I was the one who found a baby alligator in Australia a couple years ago that I knew he’d love, that’s how he got Kang.”

“Oooo!” Rose cooed, “weren’t you afraid of him?”

“Of course, not silly. Kang was only like ten centimeters long and abandoned by his mother. I knew Jagged would love him! Penny too. I’ve even helped them plan the wedding. I’ve passed on Gabriel’s personal number so that he could help them design their outfits of course.”

“What’s Lila talking about now?” Adrien asked Nino.

“Dude, haven’t you heard the news, Jagged Stone is marrying Penny!”

Adrien looked over at Marinette who had stopped the recording and was now forwarding it to a certain friend with a small grin on her face. She was shaking her head like she just couldn’t believe her luck.

“Marinette?” He asked in a questioning tone.

She looked up at him and answered, “Adrien.”

“Are you going to, uh? You know?”

Marinette only grinned wider at him with a glimmer in her eye.

“Oh yes, Marinette, what do you think about the news?!” Lila squealed. “I know you’ve met Jagged, but he really LOVES me!”

Marinette shrugged and got up, collecting herself as she calmly replied, “oh, I guess that’s nice? Although I will admit that I heard about the wedding a couple days ago though and I’m very happy for them.”

“Dude! You knew!” Nino exclaimed.

Alya shook her head, “no way! You would totally have told me.”

“Jagged and Penny didn’t want to have that information leak just yet.” Marinette offered with a shrug, “they just got engaged after all, besides they knew they couldn’t keep it a secret forever but they wanted to keep it to themselves while they could, so I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Gurl, I can’t believe you!” Alya looked on at her in shock, “I can totally keep a secret!”

“Sorry Alya, I know how to keep a secret, it wasn’t my secret to tell and they’re practically family. They came by and told us about everything Monday night, when they came to set up their taste testing for their wedding cake.”

“Just because I know him so well, you don’t have to lie and try to steal the spotlight Marinette!” Lila teared up, irritated that she had lost her adoring crowd’s attention, “I can’t believe you’d do that!” Then she ironically started up with the crocodile tears.

To Cry

Chapter 15  That's Not What I Meant

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary:  Marinette is challenged to get Adrien to understand where she is coming from, will they be able to learn how to communicate and will Adrien start to get a clue?

...

Marinette's POV

Marinette had just flippantly said that she’d been nearly akumatized a few times, an understatement really, but what bothered her most was Adrien’s focus on the fact that Marinette knew Ladybug and how to reach her.

“You have her number?” He had asked.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Marinette shook her head and held the bridge of her nose for a moment as she painfully thought, of course Adrien would focus on the fact that I know Ladybug. Everyone wants to know about Ladybug, completely missing that I AM Ladybug!

“It’s just a phrase Adrien,” she finally explained after taking a breath, “it’s not like I have her literal number that I can call and talk to her in person anytime.”

That would be highly difficult to call myself and have a conversation with, well, myself. Either that or it would be a sign that I’ve gone completely insane, kind of like the way that this boy used to do that to me, ugh the irony.

“Oh.” Adrien looked down, disappointed at her explanation.

Of course, he would be disappointed, he’s a Ladybug fan just like everyone else. It would be horribly ironic if he thought that he was in love with her too, not even Chat Noir knows me well enough to love me truthfully.

Not like Luka anyway, and Luka doesn’t seem to be blinded by the spots thankfully. Wait, since when did I realize that?

Marinette took a breath and exhaled as shook her head to focus as she decided to tell Adrien, “well, I just wanted you to know that’s all that I really wanted to talk to you about today Adrien. You’re still my friend, I know how much you appreciate your friends, but I’m not going to follow you blindly anymore.”

“I never asked you to.” Adrien looked down, disappointed. “I just didn’t want Lila to get akumatized.”

She hesitantly reached out and then patted his shoulder twice before quickly pulling away from him even though it wasn’t easy, “I know Adrien, that’s one of the things that I liked about you, you think about everyone, the trouble is you overlook some people when you do.”

“Oh, thanks.” He gave her a small smile.

“That wasn’t really a compliment Adrien.” Marinette frowned slightly and so did he, with a hint of confusion on his part, “what I mean is that I don’t want my friends or myself to get akumatized either Adrien.”

Adrien shook his head like he didn’t want that either. “I never said that I wanted that.”

Marinette frowned at him a little, “Look, all I’m saying is that it’s not healthy for me to be putting my tormentor above my own mental health. I can’t stop being me and just let bad things happen to protect the person that goes out of their way to make my life miserable. It would be like Ladybug finally catching Hawkmoth then giving him a pat on the back with a lollipop and a severe warning to not do it again and then letting him walk off with his miraculous, only for him to do something even worse than he has been doing the next day.”

“That’s… that’s not the same thing though...” Adrien began as he looked confused.

“Adrien.” Marinette put her hands on her hips in a very Ladybug like fashion before waving one hand, “it is EXACTLY like that. We KNOW that Lila isn’t going to stop lying and Hawkmoth isn’t going to just stop his attacks, unless someone STOPS him. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do and whether or not you want to support me or walk away, that is up to you, but I’m not going to put up with it anymore. I need to be true to myself, I waved a flag of peace this morning with those macaroons and it’s up to her now.”

Adrien's POV

Wow, she really reminds me of my Lady! Adrien was taken aback at the thought before he shook his head at the idea. No, that… that can’t be right. I’d know her if she was her, wouldn’t I?

Marinette was breathing heavily after her speech and Adrien nodded once to himself before he stood up and smiled at her gently. Stopping himself as he reached out to touch her shoulder as she flinched at that and pulled away slightly. He dropped his hand.

It’s really not going to be the same between us anymore, is it?

Not knowing what else to do, Adrien apologized. “I’m sorry if I wasn’t there for you Marinette, I didn’t know everything, I wish I did.”

He looked away and muttered, “then I could have been there for you more and well,” he hesitated to add it, but he did anyway, “and Lila would never have broken into my house and kissed me.”

Marinette nodded having heard but didn’t seem to be surprised that she made him feel uncomfortable, she seemed surprised at what he said though and uneasy too but she seemed determined to tell him as she relaxed a little. “Well, maybe not. She does tend to get her way though, huh? Knowing her, she would have found a way for that to happen anyway. She’s pretty determined to get her way after all.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He admitted.

Marinette sighed, “look, I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage to speak up about her threats until now. Her kissing you and taking that picture would probably have happened eventually since she’s got her sights on you. This is Lila we’re talking about and I doubt it would have made much of a difference if I had told you sooner.”

He swallowed, “it-it would have, to me. I could have, I don’t know, been more wary of her? I was hoping she was trying to do better, and now to hear this?” He shook his head, “this is messed up huh?”

Marinette frowned, “I know, it’s not what either of us expected, huh?”

“No, it’s not.” He gave her a wry grin. “Can you ever forgive me? We should talk more like this. I guess what I’m saying is that it seems like we haven’t been on each other’s side much huh?”

“Yeah, I mean,” She twiddled her fingers as she thought about it out loud as she looked out the window, “the high road is a nice idea in theory, but it doesn’t work well in real life.”

I think I’m beginning to see that. He thought as he mentally echoed her words.

She’s so pretty, wait, where did that come from?

Marinette went on though, “Adrien, I know it’s pretty sad and unfair, but sometimes people will walk all over you if you let them, or worse since they don’t take the high road too, just to take the fastest way to get their way. Even if it involves walking all over you or hurting others. There are some people that you just can’t avoid and things you’ve just got to do that you don’t want to do it sometimes.” She shrugged, “that’s just the way that life is. Life isn’t fair, it’s not all peaches and cream, sometimes it’s just sour and bitter.”

Adrien sighed, “I think I know that now. Still, I’m glad that you finally felt like you could tell me. I’ll try to be there for you if you need me to be.” Still, he seemed like he couldn’t help but hesitate. “I-I won’t just attack her though.”

That would make it worse, right? Making bad guys suffer never made them good guys after all.

She frowned at that, is she upset? It’s not smart just to attack people though.

“It’s not that I plan to.” She reiterated, “look, I prepare for possibilities when I can, but I won’t make the first move.”

Marinette replied with a raised eyebrow. “I’m surprised that you think that I would just outright attack her.”

Adrien quickly held up his hands defensively, “no, no, that’s not what I meant.”

Marinette shook her head at him as if she was disappointed now.

I don’t like that look, why does it seem familiar?

Marinette folded her arms, “look, I’m giving her an opportunity here. I think she understood that, don’t you?”

Please don’t look at me like that. Adrien found himself pleading, I never wanted to hurt you or disappoint you. Why does it feel like I’ve done both?

Adrien cleared his throat once uneasily, “yeah, I think she wasn’t happy when everyone looked so happy that you were being nice to her.”

“True, with one simple move I was proving that I am not her enemy. No one gets free Dupain-Cheng cookies if they’re not a friend, right? I decided that I should give her a chance since I haven’t been myself. Since that’s what the real me would do.”

“That’s what makes you our Everyday Ladybug.” Adrien praised, his heart aching a little bit.

She really is like my Lady, if only she was, it’s just, I’d recognize her, right?

“Oh please,” Marinette rolled her eyes, blushing slightly as she waved the idea off, “we all know I’m not anything like Ladybug.”

“No, in some ways, you’re better.” Adrien admitted with a small grin although the comment made his heart ache a little more somehow, maybe I’m betraying my Lady by saying that.

Marinette was surprised at the compliment and looked away as he finally decided to ask, “if you don’t mind me asking,” Adrien hesitantly began, “why do you think that you haven’t you been yourself?”

Marinette smiled and shrugged, shaking her head as she exhaled as she glanced at the door like it was time to leave, “I’m just going to say that I was following a fantasy, but now I’m not.” She simply explained as she picked up her bag as she started to walk away, “some dreams don’t come true Adrien and sometimes, it’s better that way.”

“Marinette?” Adrien gave her a questioning look, wondering, is she talking about me? I-I thought she had a crush on me. Why didn’t she mention it?

She waved his question off as she stated his name, “Adrien.”

“Marinette please, be honest with me.” Adrien pleaded with a raised eyebrow, his curiosity almost killing him. I don’t like not knowing if this is about me, if I hurt you somehow.

“I have been. I’ve told you everything that is important just now. I’m getting over a fantasy that by following it, I forgot who I am. So now, well,” she smiled at him, “now I’m remembering who I am. Instead of following the impossible…”

Strange, that hurts. Why?

She went on as she looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes, “look, I’m going to work on me now, by being myself and trying to be a better friend over all, it’s no big deal Adrien.” She smiled sweetly as she tilted her head to look up at him, “it’s called growing up.”

Growing up? You’re one of the most responsible people I know. Is this about you crushing on me? He thought again. I mean, I could have sworn, wait, are you avoiding it because you’re trying to get over it?

His eyes grew wide as he realized that was most likely true, but he was disappointed in himself when he also came to the conclusion, why can’t I ask her that? Why do I feel bad about not being able to return her feelings? Isn’t it better this way???

Then he finally understood something that had changed that was probably important. “Wait, y-you haven’t stuttered once since we s-started talking.” He observed with wide eyes.

And now I’m doing it!

Is… is that because Marinette is getting over me? Why, why does that hurt?

“Yep. See? I’m doing better already.” She told him confidently with that sweet smile of hers that he has been missing for some time now.

It’s good to see you smile again.

Then she surprised him by frankly saying, “so, don’t worry your handsome little head about me. I’ll see you around Adrien.” She waved and smiled at him genuinely from the door, “I hope you enjoy your lunch. Bye.”

Bye? Why does that seem, so… so final? She’s my friend, doesn’t she know how lonely lunch is for me? He wondered as she left and he texted his driver that he was on his way as he thought about it.

Or does that have another meaning?

The thought bothered him as he left the classroom alone, after glancing into his pocket to find Plagg taking yet another nap.

On one hand he was grateful his kwami hadn’t heard the conversation, on the other, it would be nice to talk to someone about it, not that Plagg was good for that kind of thing, since everything came back to cheese somehow.

He turned down the hall only to see Marinette standing outside the cafeteria, looking longingly at the entrance, only to sigh, clutch her bag to herself and then turn to walk towards the entrance of the school to have her lunch at home supposedly. He was going the same way, so he happened to follow her.

She didn’t quite seem like the confident Marinette that he had just talked to, maybe a little reserved, but she still soldiered on, leaving ahead of him as her confidence came back with each step. It was kind of interesting to see.

Then he remembered her telling him goodbye.

Somehow, her goodbye didn’t make him feel better about the situation at all. It felt… it felt, like the end to something, I just wish I knew what it was

To Cry

Chapter 14  Marinette being Marinette

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary:  Marinette calls a truce and has a talk with Adrien.

...

Marinette woke up extra early the next day after a wonderful night’s sleep after finishing redecorating her walls in her bedroom. She got ready for school humming to herself. She brushed her hair and noticed that it had grown longer. Either she needed to get a hair cut or consider wearing her hair differently.

Tikki woke up, shocked to find her chosen checking out a new style in the mirror. After their unusual and stress-free good morning to each other, Marinette asked Tikki if her pigtails would appear if she was wearing another hairstyle when she transformed.

Tikki smiled and told her, “if you want it to be like that, I could do it for you Marinette. You’re the one who chooses the suit after all.”

“Please do it then Tikki, I don’t want anyone to realize who I am just because I changed my hairstyle.”

Tikki giggled as Marinette brushed her hair back into a high pony tail, tying a slim and short pink scarf around it as an accent.

Marinette then took a look in the mirror and smiled.

“I love your new look.” Tikki praised.

“Thanks, Tikki, so do I. Now I’m going to go and make some macaroons for my class.”

Tikki cheered as Marinette headed down to the kitchen.

…

Finally, at school, Marinette was sitting at her desk with a soft smile on her face as she responded to a text from Luka, wishing her a good day back at school and good luck.

“Ooo,” Lila cooed as Marinette sent her message before she looked up to acknowledge her and then tucked away her phone. Thankfully, with Alya and Nino beside her, Lila would be on her best behavior. “Texting your fake boyfriend?” Lila teased.

Adrien walked in and glanced at the group talking before he took his seat, with a strange yet sad and dejected look on his face.

Marinette only smiled at Lila and shrugged as she answered her, “I don’t have a boyfriend Lila. The guy I was just texting, while coincidentally is a boy and my friend, he recently turned me down for the position to be honest. Not that that is anybody’s business.”

Alya gasped, “Gurl, you asked a guy out and you didn’t tell me?”

Marinette rolled her eyes, “if you hadn’t noticed I’ve been a bit out of it lately? It’s kind of guy related,” Marinette lifted her hand and made a so-so movement. Then she took a breath and sighed as she folded her arms and looked down at her lap, “but I don’t want to talk about it. He actually helped me realize that I need a break from all of that and not to rush into anything. I was following a fantasy before after all, but now I’m not anymore.”

“Really?” Lila smirked at her.

Marinette nodded and after a quick glance at Adrien, one that everyone but him noticed, before she looked away as she vaguely admitted, “let’s just say that I’m not sure if I know how to love properly right now and I’m trying to remember who I am because of that.”

Lila folded her arms and smirked as if she had won their little ‘war.’

Nino looked surprised as he totally got it.

Adrien looked at the ground feeling guilty, while Alya frowned as she told her, “gurl, I know something has been up with you lately, but come on Marinette, you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.”

Marinette had a small grin on her face as she shook her head, “I’m not being hard on myself Alya, I’m facing reality and frankly, enough about me.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s just say that I wanted to have a fresh start, so I brought macaroons to share. I made your favorite Alya and Nino!”

“Whoa Dudette, thanks!” Nino replied happily as Marinette opened the box and held it out to him as he picked out two orange ones. Alya frowned but nodded as she took two yellow ones. “I still want to talk to you about it later Gurl.”

“Later is good.” Marinette replied as she let Lila pick a macaron too, “you too Lila, I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.”

Alya smiled, “I’m proud of you gurl.” She praised her like Marinette had just apologized for whatever Lila had been saying that she had been doing to her of late.

Marinette shrugged as Lila schooled her expression and managed to reply, “well, thank you, I guess. Do these have nuts in them? Everyone here knows about it, but I’m highly allergic remember?”

(yes, the author wasn’t aware that typically macarons are made of almond flour in reality at the time of writing, but let’s pretend these aren’t.)

“Hmm, I did remember hearing something about that.” Marinette commented, not that Lila had mentioned it, “and although these don’t have any in them, there may be some cross contamination from the bakery.” Marinette frowned, “it’s a real pity but you shouldn’t eat one if you have allergies to anything Lila. You make a very good point, we just don’t have the set up to separate out things like that. I wouldn’t have been able to control it if I had tried. Maybe you could just give it to your Mom or something? I’m sure someone else would enjoy it since obviously you know better than to risk it, I’m sorry that you’ll have to miss out.” Marinette gave her a small smile as if she truly meant what she said.

“Yeah, I’ll think about that. Thanks.” Lila replied coldly before she walked up to her seat, putting the macaron in her bag, fully intending on eating it herself later.

Marinette smiled as she prepared herself as she turned around to speak to her former crush, “hey Adrien?”

Adrien looked up and turned around, startled that Marinette would even speak to him.

To Cry

Chapter 13 Luka Being Luka

This chapter can be found here on AO3

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

...

“Alright Luka,” Marinette pulled away from him and turned to face him, then she glanced at her kwami, “can we have some time alone please Tikki?”

“I’ll be out on the balcony if you need me Marinette.” Tikki replied as she floated away.

Marinette then focused on Luka, “alright now, what was that all about? I-I would think that you’d want to keep other guys away from me.”

Luka smiled painfully, “you know how I feel about you Marinette, but still, I don’t want to be a rebound for you from uh, that other guy.” He rubbed his elbow nervously with his other hand,  “and well, besides him I would think that you might be interested in Chat Noir. I mean, if it weren’t for the fact that you have to be professional as Ladybug with him.” Then he let go of his elbow and shrugged.

Marinette surprised him as she gave him a cute little snort, “and how would that work? Chat and I dating as superheroes? Even if I wanted us to, that’s the craziest thing that I’ve ever heard! I’ve told Alya that thousands of times. Not only could Hawkmoth use us against each other, but how would we get to know each other if we have to hide our civilian sides from each other?”

Luka was surprised, she seemed to have actually thought about dating her partner apparently.

Marinette elbowed him, “Luka, don’t you realize that at most I currently spend about twenty percent of my day as Ladybug during the really bad attacks and that is while the world is falling apart? I was Ladybug for only about four hours on Hero’s Day. As Max would say, how could I date someone with only 20% of myself? It’s illogical.”

Luka nodded, “that would be difficult.”

“Especially since I know that Chat Noir loves that 20% more than the 80% or more of my life that makes up the rest of Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I would wind up second guessing myself all the time, feeling like all of me isn’t enough.” She was shaking her head now. “No, it… it wouldn’t work. Ever.”

To Cry

Chapter 12  Plans for New Heroes

Summary :  Plans are made to deal with Luka's knowledge of who Ladybug and Chat Noir are and another on call hero is decided.

This chapter can be found here on AO3 

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

.....

“S-semi permanent heroes?” Marinette stuttered.

“Yes.” Master Fu sounded sure about his decision, “I suppose we could also say on call heroes. They will not come to every fight but if we leave the Snake miraculous with Viperion, he could protect himself if needed and when you need him to join in a battle, you will be able to text his civilian form from your yo-yo instead of having to come running to me.”

Marinette looked astounded but then looked up at a smiling Luka who nodded his head in agreement. “I’m willing to do that. I imagine that would save time, and that way I will have my own back up by having Sass at my side.”

Master Fu shockingly agreed, “I think that would be wise, plus you can also help Marinette or Chat Noir know about the status of their civilian sides if necessary, or fill in as needed since you know who they are.”

“F-Fill in?” Marinette stuttered. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you are getting older and I imagine that there will come a day when you are unable to be available at a certain time. Viperion and you could exchange Miraculous for a short period, or the same could be said of him and Chat Noir. Knowing both of your identities would help with that.”

“Ah, but Chat Noir does not know my identity Master.” Luka pointed out. “In fact, if he found out, it wouldn’t be hard even for him to figure out Marinette’s.”

“Hmm, that would be an issue, but it is possible to trade Miraculous without revealing yourselves. Or you could just borrow the Cat Miraculous as you wield the Snake Miraculous, they are compatible and you can wield them both at once when there is a dire need.”

“Really?” Marinette asked.

“Yes, returning it would be easy, or you could just leave the ring somewhere only Chat Noir would find it. All you would need is a meeting point and a time.”

“It still sounds risky.” Marinette pointed out.

“I agree!” Tikki quickly twittered, “but, I think Master Fu has a point. Overall, it would strengthen our position, so it could be worth the risk.”

To Cry

Chapter 11 Uh- Oh

ironically I forgot to update the rest of this story to tumblr, I’ll try to finish uploading it over the next week or two lol. Prepare for salt and some Lukanette sweetness... 

This chapter can be found here on AO3 

To start at the beginning, chapter 1 is here on AO3 or here on tumblr

Summary for chapter 11

Luka has just finished impressing Marinette's parents during brunch and the teenagers are now in her room so that he could play a song for her and to return his Miraculous to her.

Luka also tells her what he has learned about Chat Noir...

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Luka had nodded with approval a few minutes later as he began to strum a calming tune with his guitar for Marinette. He played for her for several minutes and Marinette just sighed and listened, clasping her hand to her chest as she relaxed to the melody that he played.

The song came to an end and then Luka began another as he calmly told her, “your partner was worried about you, you know.” He paused before he added, “and so was I.”

She sighed, knowing that she couldn’t avoid this conversation. “I know, and I’m sorry about worrying you both. I’ll have to have a talk with him sometime and apologize.” Marinette sniffed as she remembered last night and imagined how difficult it was for Chat to see her like that. She knew he liked her, but she had always put her crush on Adrien and their duty to Paris first. She may be working on growing past her crush, but she wasn’t sure how that would make her feel about him in the future, but she also knew that was likely a dead end, knowing how he felt about Marinette and how they still had to protect Paris.

Still, she had to ask Luka, “h-how much does he know?”